VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 54 Chev 3104 color

Then I don't know just what you would consider "fact"....thats why I mentioned the 1955 issue as well as shop manuals state the same thing. Also Bob Hensel has done extensive research (from original material) and has the same info.
I also mentioned that a VCCA MEMBER can contact one of the two VCCA 1954 truck technical advisors for verification.
Greg has also informed me that he has sent in his application to become a member.
From my years of experiance working at a Chevrolet Dealer I do recall incorrect info in their original literature. I do also remember the 1954 trucks when they were new as having the gray engines but do not use that as gospel so I back up my memory with printed material.

Gene: I'm not running the challenge flag up the pole here, I'm simply advocating caution. You said "Also Bob Hensel has done extensive research (from original material) and has the same info." which seems to verify the reprinted information by confirmation through multiple independent sources.

When I get some time, I'll go through a few documents and show you examples of things that were originally intended to be one way when the factory literature was published but were changed and went another way when the vehicles were actually produced. In the most basic terms, if things didn't change then why would data books be updated during any given year? This brings to light the question of whether a vehicle showing traits that were in production initially that were subsequently changed in the same year are both "correct" as original vehicles.

GMC did not use clutch head fasteners. But I can show you thousands of GMC trucks that have clutch head fasteners throughout them. This is because some portion of the GMC production was made on the Oakland and St. Louis CHEVROLET TRUCK production lines. Rather than try to change out the fastener system everytime a GMC came down the line, they kept going on the fenders and door latches with clutch heads. So this begs the question: If I were competing for an AACA Seniors win with my GMC containing clutch heads, would I penalized? I can show the factory assembly guide information clearly stating cross recess fasteners are used but there are the clutch heads plain as day. Who's right? To me, everyone's right but if I were to rely exclusively on "original factory documents", I would penalize the guy with clutch heads as not original.

This is an inexact science which has many questions that are hard to answer definitively.

Here is an example of how you can get into trouble on ’54 Chevy Truck colors:

I have scanned two copies of original ’54 Chevy Truck Data Book color pages, one is dated January 4, 1954 and the other is dated October 29, 1954. Both of these are in separate ORIGINAL 1954 Chevy Truck Data Books which I own.

Now lets assume that I own a '54 Chevy Truck made in Janesville, WI in November of 1954, sold on December 6th 1954, and titled as a '54. I'm trying to restore it to original specs based off of the Original 1954 Truck Data Book I bought at the swap meet. The color chart is dated October '54 so I know it's right, because it's a '54 chart...right? WRONG! Please study the areas that I outlined in yellow in the scan: http://oldgmctrucks.myphotos.cc/photos/gmcforum/54_Chev_Colors.jpg

On first glance, I would paint wheel stripes on the truck Bombay Ivory based on the Juniper Green standard default color of the truck. But a closer examination of the two documents side by side show that the October '54 color chart is actually an early release '55 1st series truck color - NOT a '54 color. Or is it? My data plate says my truck was made in November of '54 in Janesville and here's the October color chart telling me that Bombay Ivory wheel stripes are correct for my November production truck, but some guy from the International Judging Authority says that color should be Cream Medium!

Who is right?

In both cases these books are titled as '54 Truck Data Books. They are without question original. However, the October color chart was a data book update page added to the original book. All the other pages are still dated earlier in '54 but that particular page for colors is actually a '55 Truck color if you look closely in the upper left hand corner detail. Not obvious and buried in a '54 book, this information could easily be copied and presented as factual '54 information when it's really not.

So here's a new twist on your topic: If my truck was made in November of '54, did it have the January colors or the October colors and is it a '54 or is it really a '55 first series made in '54?

See how things get quickly twisted up. I've lost my place on this topic three times just trying to write this post!

In some cases the original data book may be correct for the early trucks and a running change was made during the year. Chevrolet & GM did this quite often and no announcements were made when the change was made. I worked as an Engineer for Cadillac Engineering from 1962 to 1998 running their Durability Testing at the GM Milford and Desert Proving grounds. Running changes were plenty and didn't get updated in the Sales Literature. Many assembly plants had different local suppliers in Chevrolet and I can show you many changes in the 34-35 trucks from different assembly plants that aren't the same in each. There is no way we are going to document each and every change to the extent your suggesting. I put more faith in people who actually had hands on experience with them and when many of them agree I think they are as close as you can get.

So correct. Thats why I would never discuss nuts and bolts and small hardware.
Engine color has always been a main intrest of mine since I joined the VCCA back in 1970. At that time no one was even certain of the 1929-42 engine colors....and they all had the same color.
I am well aware of paint combination, etc, changing duraing a model year as well as new colors being added.
As to the original question about 1954 235 truck engine color, I will maintain the gray color........and I am well aware that all info on the internet is not accurate.

Boy, am I loving where this discussion has headed. Greg did start the thread with questions about engine color, after all.

I guess that gray is always just gray (or grey)?

What is Gray, vs Blue-Gray, vs Dark Gray, vs Light Gray?

Maybe after Greg joins the VCCA he'll find out if one or more of the technical advisors has an official opinion on what is gray. What would be most helpful is a factory paint code (or two, or three, if the color "gray" differed over the years). The reference in the 1954 Chevrolet Truck ENGINEERING FEATURES booklet is only the [i]"The new engine is painted gray . . . "[i] and it does say if it is a new shade of grade or the older shade of gray (whatever that shade might be).

For those members/advisors/posters that were around in 1996 (or earlier), maybe someone can shed light on the shades of gray of 216 and 235 truck engines from 1937-1962 that were very nicely listed by VCCA member #1555 Robert Hensel in a 1996 article.

I have never had an interest is going to a judged truck show, but I am interested in knowing if the judges might take off points is someone had a gray 216/235 truck engine that was too dark a gray, or too light a gray, or too bluish a shade of gray?

The 1954 235 truck grey is the same gray used from 1929-52. Its true that the blue/gray tended to appear darker in the later years. The VCCA has been very liberal in judging the dark blue/grey color. The best Blue /gray engine paint is available fro Chevs of the '40's and the Filling Station.
I have enjoyed this thread also and respect the opinions of all that have responded.
As a note, in the 1953 passenger car Engineering Features Chevrolet refered to the new Power Glide Blue Flame engine being painted blue rathe than the gray used in previous years and the other 1953 engines.....Chevrolet called it GRAY, or was it GREY? :) :) :)

I finally found a reference to engine paint that specifies the DuPont color code number. The color code for the "gray engine enamel" supplied by DuPont is # 86. I found this on a 1937 Chevrolet Engineering Blue Print dated 9-3-36 The print is titled Chassis Painting p/n 596063. Now if we can find someone who can search any of the DuPont historical files maybe a exact color can be found.

I eschewed from the original blue/grey engine color on my 1951 216.
Call me crazy but..
The whole motif of the truck is green.... so I painted it the GMC engine green.

As promised, I've posted pics of my yellow truck. They can be found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lyn.gomes/LynSYellowTruck

Notice the pinstripe on the cab. What is interesting is that it isn't like the pinstripe info that mothertrucker posted - It is lower (about a half an inch above the yellow) and is unbroken all the way around - it does not break at the windshield wipers. This lends truth to OldCarKook's posts on doing your research *and* verifying it with an actual truck. Wow, I learned something.

The second set of pics in this album show the original paint from the front bumper. The lowermost bar is yellow and white, middle bar is chrome and white, top bar is chrome with white letters (you can barely see the white, but it is there). Center is chrome.

I took a whole bunch of pics of the interior. Seat is not original, so ignore it. wiper knob isn't correct either. Dash is that grey/beige color (sorry, can't remember the name right now) below and maroon up top. Letters are the grey/beige color. What's cool is the "faux" grille lines where the ash tray is are painted black to match the speaker grille. The steering wheel was also maroon. interior windowsill frames are black. armrest is maroon; the cardboard door panels are also maroon (but they're not in the pics). Header is beige; so are the visors.

The last picture is the front splash guard (not the right name, I know) - it is yellow too.

But wait, you say, what about those pics in between? I got my side tire carrier in tonight - I'm so HAPPY! Girl happy! - that means jump up and down, clap your hands, and squeal. I took it out to my truck right away and it fits!! While my body guy is busy pounding fenders, I'll take measurements and post them in the next couple of weeks.

When I first read your post about color combinations of the chrome grille, I was very confused but after seeing the pics, it is much the same as mine is. Mine is a 54 though. http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1399979772047579877KFmTTG]

MT,

I do like the green motif of your engine (the horn looks especially good).


Lyn,

Thank you very much. The photos are very helpful.

Would you say the cardboard panels match the Pearl Beige interior paint?

Is the interior light housing (on the rear roof) painted Maroon?

Is the steering wheel painted Maroon?

Are the Chevrolet letters on the dashboard painted Pearl Beige?
I recall that Greg's Blue/Blue interior had the letters painted light blue.

Is the painted part of the horn button painted Maroon?
I recall that Greg's horn button was painted a shade of Blue.

What would you say is the width of the pinstripe on the body belt? I have seen this in a variety of locations and in a variety of widths. On my suburban it was about a 1/8" stripe placed about 1/3 of the way up the belt.

The grill photo confirms where I thought the white inner bar color ends.

Was that Deluxe Shifter Knob a part of the two-tone interior package?

Regarding upholstery, this past weekend I took apart a set of Ride-Control (Unison) seats and oddly enough under the re-upholstery on the driver's seat bottom was enough material to see the maroon and beige material underneath. I was surprised to find that the two-colored upholstery was either all maroon or all beige (I had thought that the seat top panels might have been a maroon/beige weave pattern).

The interior window "sill" fames (garnish moldings) are Maroon on my 1954 Suburban and I like that appearance. I'll probably break the "rule" and paint them Maroon in my yellow/white pickup.

Thanks, again.

Tim

Tim, I think the shift knob was someone's "custom touch". Mine had the standard 3 speed black knob before I went H-M which as you know is similar but smaller.

And one othet thing. On the emblem on the front of the hood, the aftermarket sells a decal kit with the letters and the stripes. I remember when more of my paint was on it but the vertical stripes were more of a maroon color where I think the decals supplied are too red. I think if you look at the truck features article, it shows the color as maroon also. With a blue Chev bowtie and white Chevrolet letters for the chrome grille upper bar.

I ran across this UN-restored '54 GMC time capsule in Nebraska a few years ago.
Although not completely applicable to the Chevy trucks....
you can see that the 1954 2 tone steering column & steering wheel got special paint attention & the cardboard door panels match the seat material.

MT,

That photo of a Z-series cab will help me with my 54/55 GMC 350 COE (especially the cardboard and upholstery).

Thanks,
Tim

Oh, mistake in my previous post - When I said "bumper" I meant "front grille".

Would you say the cardboard panels match the Pearl Beige interior paint?
No. Cardboard door panels were maroon. I think the metal frame was also painted maroon.

Is the interior light housing (on the rear roof) painted Maroon?
I knew somebody would ask about this! It was pearl beige, but I refinished it black a long time ago. I think I will likely paint it maroon. The lens is glass; frosted on the inside, smooth on the outside.

Is the steering wheel painted Maroon?yes

Are the Chevrolet letters on the dashboard painted Pearl Beige?
Yes.

Is the painted part of the horn button painted Maroon?
yes

What would you say is the width of the pinstripe on the body belt? I have seen this in a variety of locations and in a variety of widths. On my suburban it was about a 1/8" stripe placed about 1/3 of the way up the belt.
Width is about 1/8". My opinion is that the pinstripe is maybe a quarter of the way up the belt line - it is low enough to go under the wipers and not have a break.

Was that Deluxe Shifter Knob a part of the two-tone interior package?
Hee hee! I don't think so. :) It was on the truck when I got it from the second owner. I plan to leave it on. Every girl has got to have some *bling* in her truck. (laugh)

The interior window "sill" fames (garnish moldings) are Maroon on my 1954 Suburban and I like that appearance. I'll probably break the "rule" and paint them Maroon in my yellow/white pickup.
I agree. I think it would look better for the color scheme of the truck.

The inner ring around the door frames will be the darker color in a chev. In my case, they are darker blue. http://rides.webshots.com/album/78178813foxnhz